Xanthohumol Research Paper

INTRODUCTION

Xanthohumol was originate in 1913, outlying as a yellow substance found in hops. Researchers started analyzing its molecular structure in the 1950s, but for decades the only people who showed interest in it were brewers, who were trying to learn more about how hops help impart flavor to beer[1]. Nowadays, xanthohumol is a molecular compound that widely used in promoting human health. Luckily, there is a Quran verse that I found related to this compound, which is, Allah said, “And from the fruit of the date palm and the vine, ye get out wholesome drink and food: behold, in this also is a sign for those who are wise. (An-Nahl; 16:67). Kindly be informed that, from this verse, providentially, xanthohumol is found in a plant and this plant gives bitterness flavor to the beer which is a drink. However, in Islam, drink beer is prohibited to its believers because it can give harm to the drinkers and also to other people. On the other hand, to get more knowledge about this molecule, a brief introduction of xanthohumol will be explained in the first part of this article so that readers will know detail about what is

plant or hops [2]. Hops are actually a flowering plant and a bittering agent that give flavonoid to beer. The word flavonoid itself bring the meaning of the part of polyphenol class of phytonutrients. As shown in figure 1, its molecular structure composed of two aromatic rings substituted with hydroxyl and methoxyl groups, one α, β unsaturated double bond and the prenyl unit [3]. This molecule possess C_21 H_22 O_5 and 354.40 of molecular formula and molecular weight respectively. Furthermore, this compound has the density 1.244 which conveys that it is denser than water. As comparison, It’s melting point range from 157℃ up until